Half to elisha hewitt



(No Model.)

P. FREDIN. f TRUSS.

No. 504,158. 'Patented Aug. 29, 1893.

UNITED STATES i PATENT Gerlos.

PERJOI-IAN FREDIN, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNCR OF ONE- HALF TOELISHA HEWITT, OF SAME PLACE.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,158,1`dated August29, 1893.

Application led February 24,1893. Serial 110.463,542. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, PERJOHAN FREDIN, of New Haven, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inTrusses; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connectionwith accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon,to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which saiddrawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a perspective View of a truss oonstructed in accordance withmy invention; Fig. 2,' a View in front elevation of the device with themain portion of its strap or band broken away; Fig. 3, a view inVertical section on the line .fc-x of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a detached View ofthe cup-shaped frame showing the recess formed in it to receive the endof the inflation tube of the ball-pad; Fig. 5, a view showing the twomembers of the frame support detached from each other.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of trusses in whichthe pad consists of an inflated ball, the object being to produce asimple, eective, and comfortable article, having provision for the readyinflation of the pad without its removal, for the circulation of airunder the pad, and for a wide range of adjustment in the position of theframe and hence the pad, with respect to the ,band or strap which passesaround the body.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in a truss having certaindetails of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafterdescribed and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a Lpad consisting of an iniiatedrubber ball A,

having a small iniiation tube A', by means of which the ball is keptinflated to the required degree. This ball is set into a cupshaped frameBconforming to it in curvature, and nearly hemi-spherical in form asherein shown. This frame may be of wood, or other suitable material, andis constructed with perforations B', to permit air to circulate aroundthat portion of the ball which it incloses. As shown herein the saidperforations are arranged in a circular series, and each consists of along narrow slot. The 1nmetal.

, flation tube A of the ball is passed through one of the said openings,and hence to one side of the center of the frame, as shown in Figs. 2and 3 of the drawings, whereby it is got out of the way, or cleared fromthe inside of the frame, and whereby also it is brought into anaccessible position for iniiating the ball without removing the samefrom the frame.

As herein shown, the frame is constructed upon its outer face and nearits center, with a recess B2, which is designed to receive the end ofthe tube, the same to be subjected to compression in the said recess,and in that way kept closed to prevent the escape of the compressed airwithin the ball. By locating the recess as described, the end of thetube will be compressed by the lower end of the long member C, of thetwo-part frame support of the device. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings.

It is apparent that if desired, a special opening might be made in theframe for the inflation tube of the ball to pass through, and also thatspecial means might be provided for compressing the end of the tube inits recess. I do not therefore limit myself to the exact constructionshown.

The two-part frame-support consists ofthe long member C, beforementioned, and a short member C', which are made of heavy spring Thelower end of the member C, has a perforation c, which receives a screwD, passing also through .the center of the frame, and into a threadednut D', located in the bottom of the same, whereby the frame is firmlysecured to the said member of the frame-support. The upper end of themember C, is constructed with a longitudinal slot c', which receives ascrew E, by means of which the said member is adj ustably attached tothe band or strap F, which may be of any ICO long member C, thereof,virtually forming a wide base for the attachment of the member C to theband or strap. By loosening either the screw G, or the screw F, or both,it isapparent that the member C, which carries the frame, and hence thepad, may be adjusted vertically or `laterally within therangeof the @lslots c', c2 and c3, the combined range of which enables the pad to beset in a great variety of positions with respect to the band or strap. yIt will be apparent that if it is designed tol either raise or lower-the compression of `thef air within the ball, it may readily be doneby1 `loosening `the screw D, suiiiciently to permit `the end of the tubeA', to be drawn outof the'recess B2, formed in the outerlface ofthe Ifit is desired, for instance, to inframe.

l l i i 4 crease the pressure of airwithin the baILthe mouth may beapplied to the tube, and the;

ball blown into, after which the tube may.

be pinched at its inner end between the tingers, while its outerend isinserted into the recess and clamped therein by `turning up,

the screw D, again.

Or, the screw may,

simply beloosened until a portion of the airl within the ball has beenallowed to es-l cape, after which it may be tightenedagain. Bypreference I shall employ a loose cover I, of -soft wash-leather orotherequivalent mat terial, as a protection for the ball-pad. This cover willbe fitted over the ball-pad VandI adapted in size to sufficiently extendover the frame to he firmly attached thereto `by means of apucker-string J, passingthrough holes I', formed in its edge. It isapparent that by tightening this string, the cover willlbe drawn downupon the f1'ame,and thus secured `in place. This coverI have found makesmy improved truss more comfortable in use, as well as more cleanly, forit avoids discoloration of the rubber ball pad, and may readily beremoved and washed. It preferred it may be extended `so as to nearlycover the frame, but it will be sufficient to simply carry it over theedge of the same far enough for its attachment thereto.

In view of the suggestions made herein, `I would have it understood thatI do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown anddescribed, but hold myself at liberty to an opening located at one sideof its center to permit the tube to project through it for clearance andinflation, a framesupport atft-ached `tothe center of the saidcup-shaped frame, and a band or strap to which the said frame-support isattached, substantially as described.

2. A truss having-aball-pad furnished with anintlation tube, acup-shaped-frame adapted to receive "the said pad `and permit its tubeto project through itat a pointoneside of its center, and constructed atits outer face with a recess to receive the end of the tube, and meansfor clampingr the tube in thesaid recess, substantially as described.

3. A truss having a `band or strap to pass around the body, aframe-support attached to the said band or strap, aiball-pad `furnishedwith an inflation tube, and a cup-shaped frame adapted to be attached to"the said support and to `receive the said ball-pad, and permit the tubethereof `to `pass through it, andconstructed with a recess to `receivethe end of the said tube, and located in position for `the compressionof the tube by-the said support when the frame isattached thereto,substantiallyas described.

4,. A truss lhavinga `balLpad, a `frame to receive the same, a band-0rstrap to pass around thebody, and a-pad-support consisting of a long anda short member, both attached `at their upper ends to the -band,andthe-former having the trame attached to its lower end, and theupperendof the longlmember, and the lower endof the short `member beinglongitudinally slotted, and the long member having a substantiallytransverse slot to receive a stud also passing `through the slot `inthelower end of the short member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof `I -have signed this specification inthe `presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

PERJOIIAN FREDIN.

Witnesses:

FRED C. EARLE, (1I-ias. P. KELLOGG.

IOO

